In order to generate awareness on the prevailing menace of female foeticide and drug addiction in the city, the UT health department has enrolled a new NGO – Col Shamsher Singh Foundation – under the ongoing Partnership Initiative Programme.

The founder member of the NGO, former Miss India Gul Panag, signed an memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the health department in the presence of Home Secretary-cum-Health Secretary Ram Niwas and Health and Family Welfare Director Dr Manjit Singh Bains to work for the social causes.

In his briefing to the new NGO, Ram Niwas apprised them of their responsibilities in awareness generation on the issue, monitoring of ultrasound centres to prevent sex determination as well as volunteering as decoy during raids on clinics/ultrasound centres to check female foeticide.

The NGO was also asked to motivate people by recognising the birth of second girl child in the form of celebrations of birthdays or festivals like Lohri, etc.

They were also made aware of the prevailing sex ratio scenario in the city and steps being taken by the department to combat this evil.

Support was also asked for the cause of drug de-addiction whereby the NGO could help in identification of drug addicts and weaning them away from drugs.

The NGO was asked to extend cooperation by carrying out follow-ups and rehabilitating drug addicts after treatment.

Gul Panag and her NGO assured the Health Secretary of working with dedication and commitment to make the programme of generating awareness against female foeticide and drug addition a success.